The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-02-19
JAPANESE PROGRESS.

JARANeSe PuOou6SSs
An Oriental Nation which b Adopting o.
cfdental Dreas and Manners.
Among the late arrivals at San Fran
cisco from Japan were w. c. De Lano
Eastlake and his mother. In an inter-
view with reporter. Mr.. Eastlake por-
trayed in pleasing colors the country
and its people.
The people are fast advancing0in the
civilization of their political. moral and
intellectual lives. In the customs OF
dress there has been marked change
during the last decade, until now the
officials and the better classes assume
the English costume. Among the former
it is compulsory, and upon the street
the old Japanese garb is seldom seen
except on the poorer classes. Among
the ladies, however. the loose gowns OF
the oIden days are still popular. but
even these are gradually becoming OBJ
solete and at the fashionable balls the
European dress is generally assumed.
while the programmes of the Japanese
orchestras generally include the best OF
English music.
The odd yetpicturesque style OF hair.
dressing which has SO long prevailed
in the country has been superseded by
that IF the American woman. and the
fair foreheads of the royal ladies arc
already hidden by the bang so common
in our own country. The fashions,
however. are not set by the Empress:
The style adopted by the Ministers
wives is considered quite the proper
thing, and following their example. all
ladies' of culture have stopped backing
their teeth and shaving their eyebrows.
The intellectual progress of the peo-
pie of Japan has been almost unparal-
ieled. Not only has the educational
system been established all over the
empire, but the capital city boasts OF a
university that can compare favorabiy
| with the best colleges of the CONT
nent. German professors, prominent
for scientific works and research.
have filed the chairs in the scientific
and medical departments OF the I'M
perial University, while in literature;
both ancient and modern. English and
Americans of advanced thought nave
been chosen instructors. Recently the
staff of foreign professors has been d.
minished and the vacancies filed BY
Japanese literati who have returned
from study abroad.
The works of Huxley, Spencer. Oar
win and others have been translated
into Japanese, and are familiar hand
books to students in Japan. The pro
Indicators of Christianity find that the.
have a proud scepticism to conten'
with. The Japanese talk of the .'evo
luton of species" and the nebuia
hypothesis as glibly as our learnet
men. Buddhism is still the predomin
ating faith, but Christianity is rapidl
. establishing itself among the more IN
, tellectual classes, although many OF IN
high officials express extreme oittef
ness to the doctrine and its introduc
ton. This bitterness is 30 great tina
! TO profess Christianity means the los
. of an Official position. The people ar
, not conservative, however. and 1t
, onlya matter of time when the Chris
tan faith win be accepted throughou
the country. In all the large cities put
, lie schools are maintained, and it is CON
! pulsory that after attaining certal
1 aoe children shall be sent to school.
4 Toxic there are two large law schools
q one of which il conducted in the Frenc
! and the other in the English languagl
:, Added to these is an engineering CO
o lege, with over 10000 volumes, ana \
' extensive laboratories, which have pee
r recently merged with the Imperial 20
(ege- :,
= onward march of civilization, and Il
chief excitement of the country now
!. the preparation for the National
- sembly promised for 1890. The grouI
= is already purchased and the Assemb
= buildings commenced, although the
> is naturally some Misrepresentation
> the part Of suspicious minds that {
4. Government may not carry OUT
:. promises to the people. AS 1t nc
!, stands, the governments IN the han
>" of the Emperor, assisted by the Sens
and House of Lords, which in the Js
OF anese il called ..(ien ro-in." The \
n tional Assembly will be composed
" representatives elected by the peol
q from the various districts into wnl
" the country is divided. thus making
X empire a partial republic. Laws
Tn garding press criticism and put
al speech are very stringent. and in mel
-, er il criticism of the Government
IL lowed. Regarding Japan's relate
70 with America I am able to speah
va length. My visit to this country is
the interest of an extension OF
he mercantile traffic. The United Sta
lat and its people are regarded with g!
by respect BY the Japanese. and in "a
lily eyes. az the Fiji Shinlpo, one OF
or. leading journals, expresses it. Ame'
'ps stands out in the world like bloss
nd inc mlum branch among thicke'
ar brambles, diffusing . rich fragra
air and compelling the admiration OF
per for her great name and vigorous poi
his | c.. T-cu.se~n Chr0n;cLz